My writings on the Nation, Torah, and Land of Israel. To see my artwork, please visit Painting Israel.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Shabbat on the Coast

With my new-found freedom, thanks to the Magic Carpet, I've been able to greatly increase my range. Last Shabbat, Adam and I made it out to the small religious village of KfarHaroeh, which is near Netanya.A map showing Netanya, which is about even in latitude with Shchem/ElonMoreh, but located right on the coast rather than in the hilly inland region.

Street signs are all in English as well, which makes it easier to get around but means I get less Hebrew practice.

A major landmark, "HarZevel" (garbage mountain,) one of the main landfills in the region. Typically used for reference, as in "Turn left at HarZevel."

We finally arrived at KfarHaRoeh after about an hour and a half (don't believe the map above that says Jerusalem to Netanya is fifty minutes.) First, we swung through HibbatTzion

Horseback lessons in HibbatTzion

Yours truly, with twelve days' beard growth, in HibbatTzion.

Next, we headed over to KfarHaroeh to drop off our stuff at our hostess' house.

Welcome to KfarHaRoeh.

The village was established back in 1933, a decade and a half before statehood, by Rav Kook Z"L, spiritual father of the National Religious movement. It is also home to the first BneiAkiva (national religious youth movement) yeshiva.

KfarHaRoeh

After dropping off our belongings, it was onward to Netanya, and the beach!

An interesting tree formation on the way to the beach. Reminds me of something you'd see in the South (of the United States, that is.)

Taking the coastal road into Netanya

On the way to the beach, we stopped by the old folks' home with our Hostess and visited this old person. I don't remember the connection exactly, but we tried to say hello, sing her some songs, dance around, and brighten up her day a bit.

Most of Netanya is the sort of stucco 1950's style buildings I used to live in in Be'erSheva.

At last, we've reached the beach!

There seemed to be paragliders everywhere. The beach also has some sort of water slide park...

... and there's lots of fishin'. For me, though, the most relaxing thing is to dive into the warm ocean and swim around.

While swimming, I felt a few light stings. Sure enough, some jellyfish washed ashore. In August, the jellyfish can become so intense that it's impossible to swim at all.